The Tipperary 2012 glory story continued in McDonagh Park, Nenagh last night, the third leg of the Munster Grand Slam completed with this win over Clare in the Munster intermediate hurling championship final, adding to the senior/minor double won in Cork a couple of weeks ago. All that remains now for a Tipp provincial clean sweep is to win the U-21 final in two weeks in Limerick, again against Clare.

None of the Tipp team that played here will be involved in that match, an internal county board ruling confining selection on the intermediate panel to those aged between 21 and 27. In stark contrast, 10 of those who started for Clare last night are still U-21 with another three (Conor Ryan, Niall Arthur and Mikey O’Neill) making an appearance off the subs’ bench. It told too, that difference in age, not so much physically as mentally. Clare were flying, well up to the physical battle, and did more than enough to win this title. Their decision-making with posts in sight was poor, however, their shooting in the second-half especially, when the game was there to be won, very much astray. Five wides to start the half, four more before the final whistle — oh how they’ll rue those missed opportunities!

Played in front of a small but vocal crowd of 2,236, near-perfect conditions, the opening five minutes were even-steven, two points apiece when the feeling-out process was over. Tellingly, it was corner-forwards David Butler (from play) and Kieran Morris (free) with the Tipp points and these two would go on to dominate the scoreboard for the home side, while midfielder Pa Sheehan (play) and centre-forward Cathal O’Connell (65) replied for Clare, again the two who would go on to top-score for the visitors.

Tipp then went on a bit of a gallop, four straight points in three minutes, but Clare had it back level by the 21st minute at 0-7 each, Morris and Butler continuing to do all the scoring for Tipperary, wing-forward Cathal Malone, Fergal Kennedy and Davy O’Halloran joining O’Connell on the mark for Clare. It remained tight to the break, only a goal in it (1-10 to 0-10), that goal coming in the 29th minute, powered over by the giant Butler after Clare keeper Niall Woods had come under pressure from a long James Barry delivery.

Clare took a long time to reappear for the second-half but when they did they were instantly on the attack. Instantly astray also, two wides and an underhit free that fell short, three more wides to follow; Tipperary meanwhile were all efficiency, two softly conceded pointed frees by the deadly accurate Kieran Morris and a lovely combination point from play (keeper James Logan to midfielder Michael Gleeson to Mikey Heffernan) helping them to extend their lead to six points by the 42nd minute (1-13 to 0-10).

Eventually — after yet another wide — Clare did find the range, Pa Sheehan pointing the way, followed by an inspirational long-range score from centre-back Cillian Duggan, and suddenly they were back in the game. Two more from the new settled O’Connell, another from rangy wing-forward Peter Duggan, and with five minutes to go it was back to a two-point game, 1-14 to 0-15.

Former senior midfielder Michael Gleeson had been showing touches of class all through, however, and in those final five minutes he was the main man for Tipperary. Wing-forward Sean Carey was another who showed up at this vital stage, two scoring passes to Gleeson and Heffernan, freetaker Morris with the final say. A deserved win for Tipp, their first intermediate title since 2002, straight through now to an All-Ireland final meeting on September 1st against either Kilkenny or Galway. For Clare, some wounds to heal before that U-21 final in two weeks.

There are 6 Changes on the Clare Team from the side that defeated Waterford in the Munster Semi Final , for the Munster Intermediate Hurling Final Clash with Tipperary this evening. A number of positional switches as well, as Clare defend their Munster and All Ireland Titles, that they won for the first time in the Counties history last year.

1. Niall Woods Newmarket

2. Paul Flanagan Ballyea

3. David McInerney Tulla

4. Ciaran O Doherty Crusheen ( C )

5. Stephan O Halloran Clarecastle

6. Cillian Duggan Clooney/Quin

7. Cathal Chaplin Broadford

8. Pa Sheehan Sixmilebridge

9. Jarleth Colleran St Josephs Doora/ Barefield

10. Peter Duggan Clooney/ Quin

11. Cathal O Connell Clonlara

12. Cathal Malone Ennistymon

13. Fergus Kennedy Crusheen

14. Aidan Lynch Ruan

15. David O Halloran Eire Og Ennis

The Tipperary intermediate hurling team to play Clare in Wednesday evening’s Munster final at MacDonagh Park Nenagh is unchanged from the team which started in the semi-final against Cork. The team is:

1. James Logue (Ballingarry)

2. Gerry Walsh (Carrick Swan)

3. Kevin O’Gorman (Thurles Sarsfields)

4. Christy Coughlan (Templederry Kenyons)

5. James Barry (Upperchurch Drombane)

6. Eddie Connolly (Loughmore Castleiney) CAPT

7. Ronan Sherlock (Silvermines)

8. Michael Gleeson (Thurles Sarsfields)

9. Paudie White (Clonoulty Rossmore)

10. Seán Carey (Moyle Rovers)

11. Joe Gallagher (Kildangan)

12. Michael Heffernan (Nenagh Éire Óg)

13. Kieran Morris (Moycarkey-Borris)

14. Damien O’Brien (Burgess)

15. David Butler (Drom and Inch)

For the Record

Tipperary

Clare

2011 Championship Performance

Lost to Cork by 2-16 to 2-12 in the Munster Quarter-Final at Semple Stadium Thurles.

Defeated Cork by 2-19 to 0-15 in the Semi-Final before securing a 2-15 to 2-13 victory over Limerick in the Munster Final played at Limerick. Clare went on to win the All-Ireland title with a 2-13 to 2-11 victory over Kilkenny at Thurles.

The Sweet Afton Cup presented by Mr. Jerry Shelly of Tipperary in 1961.

All Ireland GAA HURLING Intermediate Championship

In the Intermediate Hurling All Ireland Roll of Honour, Cork lead the way with 7 titles followed by Tipperary with 5. Wexford (4), Kilkenny (3), London (2), Galway (2) and Clare (1) are the only other counties to have won an All-Ireland title in this grade.

Useful Information

Clare’s 3 victories in the Munster Intermediate Hurling Championship in the last 2 seasons match their total number of wins in this competition between 2002 and 2010.

Prior to the 2012 Munster Intermediate Hurling Championship, Tipperary had won just 1 of their 6 matches played between 2007 and 2011.

Since 2000, Tipperary have the same number of victories in the Munster Intermediate Hurling Championship (17) as Clare (7), Waterford (6) and Limerick (4) combined. Cork have recorded 16 victories in that span.

Cork holds the record for the longest streak of success in finals. They won four championships in-a-row between 2003 and 2006.

Tipperary holds the record for the longest streak of defeats in finals. They lost three championship deciders in-a-row between 2004 and 2006.

Cork holds the record for the most consecutive appearances in Munster finals. They played in four-in-a-row on two separate occasions, firstly between 1967 and 1970, and most recently between 2003 and 2006.

Three counties have completed the Munster Intermediate and Senior double in the same year:

Cork in 1969, 1999, 2003, 2005, 2006

Tipperary in 1961, 1971

Waterford in 2007

Cork is the only county to have completed the Munster Minor, Under-21, Intermediate and Senior ‘grand slam’ in the same year. This was achieved in 1969 and again in 2005.

Only one player has captained his county to Munster titles in both the intermediate and senior grades:

Pat Mulcahy captained Cork to the intermediate title in 1997 and the senior title in 2006.